Mailbaggers, I open this mailbag not with a bloody lip or mussed hair, as Tim Tebow did while playing quarterback Sunday, but with a callus on my writing finger and mousse in my hair. Grrrr! On with the mailbag...

Mike, I appreciate that you've kept level-headed about Tim Tebow. I hear Tebow fanatics AND Tebow haters both saying they think you stink. So you must be doing something right. Anyway, what do you take away from Sunday's win? Was that a big jump up in capability for Tebow? Did he seem more NFL ready? I mean, at least he's not throwing interceptions, right?---Nat, Denver

To your first point, Nat, thanks. I tell my family and hometown friends that writers should not be judged on comments at the bottom of a story alone. It is stunning how emotional people get with Tebow, whether that emotion is love or hate. I try to view him with emotional detachment, even if, objectively speaking, I don't understand how anyone can not pull for the guy.

But Tebow's a big boy. When he doesn't play well, he doesn't need me apologizing for him. When he plays well and wins, there's no sense dwelling on his flaws. That goes for any player in any sport. It's not just Tebow. There are no Tebow Rules here.

The most significant aspect in the Broncos' win Sunday in Oakland was how the coaching staff came up with a way to best utilize Tebow's talents. For the past year-and-a-half, the Broncos tried to fit Tebow into the pro-style offense from the pocket.

The read-option running play was so simple, so college-like, it was brilliant.

Tebow was the best college player of all-time. From the spread offense at the University of Florida, he ran the read-option. He was a terrific runner, and an explosive passer. That's what he was Sunday against Oakland. He not only ran for 117 yards, he completed passes of 27 yards to Eric Decker (for a touchdown), 26 yards to Eddie Royal (for a touchdown) and 29 yards to Demaryius Thomas (setting up a field goal in the third quarter, Tebow's last pass of the game). And that wasn't catch-and-run passing yardage. All that yardage travelled through the air.

I don't know if you can win a Super Bowl running the read option. But it's the best offense for Tebow. And to think people were making statements that Fox and the Broncos were purposely setting up Tebow to fail. People.

Watching the Broncos the last three weeks, offensive lineman Chris Clark (No. 75) reports as an eligible receiver more than I have ever seen. Is this for Tim Tebow, or were they doing it for Kyle Orton too?---Darren Heavyside, Cumbria, UK

Clark would go in as an extra tight end when Orton was playing, too. He even started the games, alongside Orton, as a second tight end against Green Bay and San Diego.

When you think about it, many tight ends, like Daniel Graham for the Broncos the previous four years, are really offensive tackles. Their job is to block on all but about five or six plays a game. They might get one catch, just to keep them interested.

So if some tight ends are really offensive tackles, why not have an offensive tackle line up as an extra tight end in the so-called "power package." Every team does this, Darren. But you're right, the Broncos do it more than most.

If the Broncos aren't in position to get Andrew Luck, Landry Jones or Matt Barkley, at what point do they consider the top WR, CB, RB or OT? You could make an argument they really need any of those positions.---Dan, Seattle

Dan, good point, although I would amend your list. The Broncos' priorities in the upcoming draft will be, in no particular order: quarterback, cornerback and defensive tackle. A running back would be fourth.

The Broncos' two starting cornerbacks, Champ Bailey and Andre' Goodman, will both play at 34 next season. Chris Harris is turning out to be a nice undrafted rookie find, but the Broncos need a top-flight corner. Too bad they couldn't draft both Von Miller and Patrick Peterson in this year's draft. Both players have lived up to their pre-draft hype as rookies.

At defensive tackle, the Broncos will no doubt try to bring back Brodrick Bunkley. His contract expires after this season. The Broncos like him. Marcus Thomas, who came back on a one-year deal, is also playing with passion. But the Broncos need an Ndamukong Suh or younger Richard Seymour in the middle.

At running back, Willis McGahee will be back next year, and Knowshon Moreno will be a nice third-down back while drawing a minimum fourth-year salary. But the Broncos will consider a starting-type running back in the second round with the idea of breaking him in next year, and becoming the featured ballcarrier in 2013.

With the Broncos QB situation in mind, does the new pay structure for draft picks make it easier or more attractive to trade up in the draft? Because even though you give up picks, it's not as big a financial hit or risk?---Darren, UK

Darren: You just sneaked in a second letter from the United Kingdom to the mailbag. There are no rules against good questions, though. You're right, the new, team-favorable pay structure for the top-half of the draft does make trading into the top 5 more palatable.

I've written this several times - don't count the Broncos out of the Andrew Luck sweepstakes. Broncos' front-office boss John Elway knows all about using leverage as the most sought after player in the country. If anybody but Miami lands the No. 1 overall pick, that team can expect a phone call or 12 from the Broncos.

I'm pretty sure he would not comment, but has anyone asked Josh McDaniels about Tim Tebow? Basically, "Hey Josh, you selected Tebow in the first round. What did you see then? And what was your plan for him had you not been shown the door?"---Todd Mather, Oakley, Calif.

No one's called McDaniels, primarily because it's not necessary. McCoy, Gase, Studesville and tight ends coach Clancy Barone are all offensive assistants who were held over from the McDaniels' regime. General manager Brian Xanders was in the war room when Tebow was drafted.

In summary, McDaniels saw a quarterback prospect who graded an A++ in every category except passing mechanics and passing accuracy. A great winner, a great athlete, a great leader. And McDaniels, who had been considered a quarterback guru for the way he raised the play of Matt Cassel and Kyle Orton, thought he could coach up Tebow's passing.

And maybe he could have with a little more time, but there's no sense going there. McDaniels is taboo at Dove Valley and I'm sure McDaniels isn't exactly pumping his fists whenever the Broncos' score.

With all the QB controversy, why so little discussion about the O-line and D-line, who have been so consistently weak?---Garcia, Fort Collins

The Broncos just rushed for 298 yards against the Raiders, whose front four tore up the Broncos two months ago in the season opener. The Broncos' front lines won this game by TKO.

The Broncos have averaged 233.3 rushing yards in the past three games. Weak? Those numbers should put all five in the Pro Bowl. Second-year center J.D.Walton, by the way, had his best game of the year.

And if you're talking pass protection and Tebow's sacks, almost all of them are on the quarterback's style of play. Not the quarterback. The quarterback's style.

For all the comparisons made regarding Tebow, the quarterback most like him is Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger. Big, strong, spins, breaks tackles, keeps holding the ball. Roethlisberger has taken a league-high 26 sacks this year. The Steelers are 6-3. Big Ben and Aaron Rodgers tied for the NFL lead with 50 sacks each in 2009. Their offensive lines met in the Super Bowl a year later.

Mike, I see improvement in each of the Broncos young players including a much improved Tebow against the Raiders. Do you think Ryan Clady is backsliding a bit as he struggles with holding penalties and seems to get beat occasionally?---Dave, Irvine

Even with all the holding penalties he's had this year, Clady remains one of the top five left tackles in the NFL, especially in pass protection. He may have rivaled Joe Thomas as the No. 1 left tackle before he blew out his knee prior to last season, but Clady is still the Broncos' most gifted lineman.

Clady will be key to a Broncos victory this week in Kansas City. Chiefs defensive end Tamba Hali has six sacks in his last four games against the Broncos, including a two sack game last year and three sack game in 2009. The Broncos can't beat the Chiefs without a strong performance from Clady.

Champ Bailey's knack for finding the ball is undeniable, two interceptions proves that, but I couldn't help but notice he's not as quick as he used to be. How many seasons before the Broncos ask him to transition to free safety?---Brandon, Farmington, N.M.

I say Bailey plays the 2012 season at cornerback. And then write me back in the final month of that season and we'll talk. Even if Bailey has lost a step from his sensational 2005-06 seasons, he's still one of the top five cornerbacks in the league.

(Did I just say that in back-to-back answers? Folks, there are mailbags. And there are mailbags written after catching a 6 a.m. flight home to Denver.)

Mike Klis is in his seventh season covering the Broncos and the NFL for The Denver Post. Pose a Broncos- or NFL-related question for the Broncos Mailbag. Listen to Mike Klis on "Klis' Korner" regularly on 102.3 FM The Ticket.

Lockheed says object part of 'sensor technology' testing that ended ThursdayWhat the heck is that thing? It's fair to assume that question was on the minds of many people who traveled along Colo. 128 south of Boulder this week if they happened to catch a glimpse of what appeared to be a large, silver projectile perched alongside the highway and pointed north toward town.

PARIS (AP) — Bye, New York! Ciao, Milan! Bonjour, Paris! The world's largest traveling circus of fashion editors, models, buyers and journalists has descended on the French capital, clutching their metro maps and city guides, to cap the ready-to-wear fashion season. Full Story